Allotments 4 All

It will be interesting to see how we fared at the end of the season!

Congratulations on your lights, Garrett. For me, they rescue this time of year as I love watching early seedlings develop, and they make an early start much more possible.

I have made my first seed snail, not beautiful but hopefully functional! It's for early peas. I watched one video which showed that with peas there can be a problem with tendrils intertwining and making rolling out difficult. I left a collar with the aim of lessening that effect and hope to plant them out before they get too tall.  It will be interesting to see how the method compares with both guttering and module trays for pea sowing. I crammed 40 seeds into my snail as they were old seeds and probably would have patchy germination. I would usually sow 40 seeds into half of a 40 module seed tray (2 to a module) so the difference in space taken isn't huge. But all very interesting and the root development might well be a big plus.
Looking at my snail again I think the top elastic band might be too tight. I might well replace with some sticky tape.

Sorry m o r e  seed spiral videos;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IXPVQRxiO0

I have used bubble wrap for the spirals but I like Polyfoam , compost bags work too.

Porous fabric would mean roots can grow into it and make unrolling more difficult.  Another video I watched yesterday used waxed paper, I think it is called greaseproof sandwich wrapping paper.  It was also mentioned that the taller seed spirals have less capillary action from watering below. 

Have yet to get some practical experience here.  Haven't started any seeds yet here. But soon.  This is very interesting MR! 

Ah I've seen this roll method before but had no idea they were called 'seed snails'. Honestly my stomach lurched a bit from subconscious terror at the mere mention of seeds and snails in the same sentence!
Looking at the root development I am very tempted to give it a go, I've got some old compost sacks I could cut up, or does it work best with porous fabric?

I haven't been tempted by seed snails yet, but I have sown my peppers. The older donated seeds haven't sprouted so far but I'm checking every day and still hopeful.

I've bought some grow lights and have my other peppers growing under them. It'll be interesting to see what difference it makes from letting them make do with the windowsill.

Also on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWKeYaL36XgRsqNm_uZKqZQ

I tried seed snails last year  , thinking they were probably a bit of a fad , late in the season but I was very impressed by the resulting cosmos and last autumn sown sweet peas are doing well. I have sown broad beans both ways and await results , high hopes for sweetcorn!As for tomatoes I sow a few seeds of many varieties and think labelling would be an issue for me. Snails do save space and compost especially when heated propagator space is at a premium.
If you are on instagram the lady who has good advice/experience is faridasober .

Onions and aubergines for me plus a few early peppers. Trying some of Ruud's older pepper seeds in chamomile tea then damp kitchen roll. Just one notable success so far but I wasn't expecting much from older chilli seeds as they're some of the shortest keepers.

And seed snails! New to me - I lead a sheltered life! They look very interesting. I'd love to hear a bit more about how you've used them, MR or anyone else. I imagine they're very good for onions. And if they could save some space and compost for broad beans or peas, which I'm just starting to sort out, that would be great.